Deputies Fatally Shoot Great-Grandfather of Children Who Were Killed in Car Crash

An armed man shot and killed by authorities outside of the Hendricks County Courthouse in Danville, Ind., was identified as the great-grandfather of two young children killed in a car crash on Feb. 5 in Plainfield, Ind.

Mark Vawter, 65, was allegedly at the courthouse on Monday, May 5, to confront S’Doni Pettis, 25, WTHR reported, citing Indiana State Police. Pettis was driving a vehicle that struck the car carrying Vawter’s grandchildren in February.

On Monday at 12:55 p.m. local time, Vawter allegedly fired at an inmate transport van and deputies outside of the courthouse. Two deputies responded by opening fire at Vawter, and he was struck once. He was pronounced dead at the scene, per WTHR.

A gun was found near Vawter’s body, Indiana State Police public information officer Sgt. John Perrine confirmed to IndyStar. There were no other casualties, and the inmates were instead transported to a different, unknown location, the outlet reports.

Vawter’s great-grandchildren, Ares, 3, and Iris, 2 months, died upon impact when a car driven by Pettis slammed into theirs, which burst into flames, according to WTHR. Pettis was allegedly driving a stolen vehicle per police, Fox 59 reported.

Pettis, who survived the crash, has been charged with three counts of resisting law enforcement- use of vehicle and causes death or catastrophic injury (a level three felony), causing death when operating a motor vehicle with a Schedule One or controlled substance (a level four felony), two counts of causing catastrophic injury when operating a motor vehicle with a Schedule One or controlled substance (a level four felony), conversion (a level five felony) and auto theft (a level six felony), per Fox 59.

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The crash occurred at the intersection of U.S. 40 and Ronald Reagan Parkway, the outlet reported. Pettis was allegedly meant to be one of the inmates in the transportation vehicle on May 5, but his hearing was rescheduled, and he was not present, per WTHR. Prosecutors now believe that Vawter was present to attempt to shoot and kill Pettis.

The Hendricks County prosecutor, Loren P. Delp, filed a motion to shield Pettis’ records on Wednesday, May 7. Defense attorney Brad Banks told WTHR, “In these instances, they are rare. We don’t see things like this happen very often.”

“Not only for his own safety, but obviously this put the other inmates, because they transport in groups,” Banks continued. “They’re usually chained together. So even a bullet that hit the intended target could pass through and hit another inmate. Also, the deputies themselves who are transporting them. It puts everybody in danger.”

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“Access to or dissemination of the information about court hearings and the location of the defendant on a particular day may create the opportunity for further attempts at vigilantism or reprisals and would create a significant risk of substantial harm to and could endanger the safety of the defendant, other inmates, law enforcement officers, courthouse personnel and the general public,” the Hendricks County prosecutor’s office said in a statement to WTHR.

Before his death, Vawter spoke to IndyStar in February at Riley Hospital for Children while observing a Walk of Honor for Ares, an organ donor.

“It should have been Ares who buried me, not me burying him,” Vawter said at the time. “He was so young.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Hendricks County Police Department, Indiana State Police, and the Hendricks County prosecutor’s office, but did not immediately hear back.